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Population in Malawi compared to Russia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 6.18 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 1.99% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Malawi vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malawi Russia
2100 59,786,744 124,983,377
2099 59,528,389 125,086,144
2098 59,275,876 125,186,329
2097 59,028,312 125,264,415
2096 58,761,888 125,354,177
2095 58,508,246 125,422,006
2094 58,240,422 125,474,373
2093 57,966,788 125,529,632
2092 57,672,738 125,604,261
2091 57,377,090 125,652,742
2090 57,060,476 125,707,894
2089 56,739,410 125,760,026
2088 56,397,330 125,810,124
2087 56,053,671 125,858,116
2086 55,706,928 125,926,035
2085 55,348,708 126,001,913
2084 54,997,097 126,076,414
2083 54,605,058 126,151,046
2082 54,206,477 126,234,371
2081 53,795,317 126,317,768
2080 53,372,779 126,414,511
2079 52,948,243 126,534,688
2078 52,521,908 126,674,591
2077 52,063,931 126,830,956
2076 51,600,404 126,982,766
2075 51,141,728 127,165,304
2074 50,684,368 127,362,143
2073 50,229,762 127,576,856
2072 49,769,904 127,802,632
2071 49,287,139 128,080,998
2070 48,797,935 128,353,977
2069 48,301,644 128,642,208
2068 47,792,308 128,920,237
2067 47,277,473 129,203,483
2066 46,752,024 129,511,983
2065 46,228,139 129,842,007
2064 45,701,844 130,177,089
2063 45,179,322 130,522,107
2062 44,638,764 130,851,664
2061 44,076,711 131,200,160
2060 43,508,702 131,526,812
2059 42,916,694 131,884,461
2058 42,344,863 132,247,211
2057 41,762,060 132,584,941
2056 41,184,161 132,925,501
2055 40,584,950 133,271,436
2054 39,994,696 133,595,068
2053 39,377,622 133,914,243
2052 38,766,890 134,180,223
2051 38,153,322 134,443,510
2050 37,545,865 134,687,487
2049 36,936,275 134,909,323
2048 36,339,833 135,117,641
2047 35,725,127 135,311,492
2046 35,107,179 135,482,008
2045 34,491,916 135,664,379
2044 33,862,279 135,863,165
2043 33,247,804 136,085,277
2042 32,636,511 136,307,658
2041 32,019,447 136,557,818
2040 31,402,305 136,821,807
2039 30,782,479 137,122,219
2038 30,166,708 137,433,644
2037 29,527,821 137,770,811
2036 28,896,515 138,118,955
2035 28,267,970 138,478,809
2034 27,643,367 138,852,689
2033 27,018,105 139,237,595
2032 26,404,071 139,635,142
2031 25,795,897 140,058,187
2030 25,181,820 140,453,528
2029 24,566,478 140,840,370
2028 23,968,071 141,214,141
2027 23,374,588 141,580,416
2026 22,791,601 141,906,741
2025 22,220,885 142,772,403
2024 21,655,286 143,533,851
2023 21,104,482 143,826,130
2022 20,568,728 144,236,933
2021 20,047,258 144,746,762
2020 19,533,888 145,245,148
2019 19,025,752 145,453,291
2018 18,528,081 145,398,106
2017 18,039,715 145,293,260
2016 17,557,739 145,015,460
2015 17,085,587 144,640,716
2014 16,621,538 144,237,223
2013 16,161,816 143,805,638
2012 15,709,577 143,378,447
2011 15,265,022 143,018,195
2010 14,826,463 142,849,468
2009 14,395,788 142,785,348
2008 13,976,417 142,742,366
2007 13,576,343 142,805,114
2006 13,198,701 143,049,637
2005 12,840,031 143,518,814
2004 12,500,737 144,067,316
2003 12,181,574 144,648,618
2002 11,880,440 145,306,497
2001 11,593,058 145,976,482
2000 11,315,942 146,596,869
1999 11,047,804 147,214,776
1998 10,792,876 147,670,784
1997 10,562,035 147,915,361
1996 10,352,228 148,160,129
1995 10,150,117 148,375,787
1994 10,164,894 148,407,912
1993 10,284,024 148,458,777
1992 10,135,079 148,538,197
1991 9,844,227 148,394,216
1990 9,545,852 147,969,406
1989 9,176,220 147,721,000
1988 8,753,262 146,857,000
1987 8,293,174 145,908,000
1986 7,906,480 144,894,000
1985 7,620,508 143,858,000
1984 7,332,810 142,745,000
1983 7,051,709 141,668,000
1982 6,778,879 140,823,000
1981 6,516,454 139,941,000
1980 6,265,529 139,010,000
1979 6,028,749 138,027,000
1978 5,810,132 137,060,000
1977 5,614,983 136,100,000
1976 5,443,384 135,147,000
1975 5,287,367 134,200,000
1974 5,141,337 133,432,000
1973 5,003,938 132,669,000
1972 4,874,475 131,909,000
1971 4,751,434 131,155,000
1970 4,633,944 130,404,000
1969 4,521,184 129,664,000
1968 4,411,054 128,928,000
1967 4,303,012 128,196,000
1966 4,197,926 127,468,000
1965 4,096,157 126,745,000
1964 3,997,305 125,345,000
1963 3,900,506 123,960,000
1962 3,806,307 122,591,000
1961 3,715,534 121,236,000
1960 3,628,134 119,897,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Malawi's population will grow by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people, while Russia's population already peaked in 1992 at 149M people and is projected to decrease to 125M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Malawi
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malawi Russia
2100 0.43% -0.08%
2099 0.43% -0.08%
2098 0.42% -0.06%
2097 0.45% -0.07%
2096 0.43% -0.05%
2095 0.46% -0.04%
2094 0.47% -0.04%
2093 0.51% -0.06%
2092 0.52% -0.04%
2091 0.55% -0.04%
2090 0.57% -0.04%
2089 0.61% -0.04%
2088 0.61% -0.04%
2087 0.62% -0.05%
2086 0.65% -0.06%
2085 0.64% -0.06%
2084 0.72% -0.06%
2083 0.74% -0.07%
2082 0.76% -0.07%
2081 0.79% -0.08%
2080 0.8% -0.09%
2079 0.81% -0.11%
2078 0.88% -0.12%
2077 0.9% -0.12%
2076 0.9% -0.14%
2075 0.9% -0.15%
2074 0.91% -0.17%
2073 0.92% -0.18%
2072 0.98% -0.22%
2071 1% -0.21%
2070 1.03% -0.22%
2069 1.07% -0.22%
2068 1.09% -0.22%
2067 1.12% -0.24%
2066 1.13% -0.25%
2065 1.15% -0.26%
2064 1.16% -0.26%
2063 1.21% -0.25%
2062 1.28% -0.27%
2061 1.31% -0.25%
2060 1.38% -0.27%
2059 1.35% -0.27%
2058 1.4% -0.25%
2057 1.4% -0.26%
2056 1.48% -0.26%
2055 1.48% -0.24%
2054 1.57% -0.24%
2053 1.58% -0.2%
2052 1.61% -0.2%
2051 1.62% -0.18%
2050 1.65% -0.16%
2049 1.64% -0.15%
2048 1.72% -0.14%
2047 1.76% -0.13%
2046 1.78% -0.13%
2045 1.86% -0.15%
2044 1.85% -0.16%
2043 1.87% -0.16%
2042 1.93% -0.18%
2041 1.97% -0.19%
2040 2.01% -0.22%
2039 2.04% -0.23%
2038 2.16% -0.24%
2037 2.18% -0.25%
2036 2.22% -0.26%
2035 2.26% -0.27%
2034 2.31% -0.28%
2033 2.33% -0.28%
2032 2.36% -0.3%
2031 2.44% -0.28%
2030 2.5% -0.27%
2029 2.5% -0.26%
2028 2.54% -0.26%
2027 2.56% -0.23%
2026 2.57% -0.61%
2025 2.61% -0.53%
2024 2.61% -0.2%
2023 2.6% -0.28%
2022 2.6% -0.35%
2021 2.63% -0.34%
2020 2.67% -0.14%
2019 2.69% 0.04%
2018 2.71% 0.07%
2017 2.75% 0.19%
2016 2.76% 0.26%
2015 2.79% 0.28%
2014 2.84% 0.3%
2013 2.88% 0.3%
2012 2.91% 0.25%
2011 2.96% 0.12%
2010 2.99% 0.04%
2009 3% 0.03%
2008 2.95% -0.04%
2007 2.86% -0.17%
2006 2.79% -0.33%
2005 2.71% -0.38%
2004 2.62% -0.4%
2003 2.53% -0.45%
2002 2.48% -0.46%
2001 2.45% -0.42%
2000 2.43% -0.42%
1999 2.36% -0.31%
1998 2.19% -0.17%
1997 2.03% -0.17%
1996 1.99% -0.15%
1995 -0.15% -0.02%
1994 -1.16% -0.03%
1993 1.47% -0.05%
1992 2.95% 0.1%
1991 3.13% 0.29%
1990 4.03% 0.17%
1989 4.83% 0.59%
1988 5.55% 0.65%
1987 4.89% 0.7%
1986 3.75% 0.72%
1985 3.92% 0.78%
1984 3.99% 0.76%
1983 4.02% 0.6%
1982 4.03% 0.63%
1981 4% 0.67%
1980 3.93% 0.71%
1979 3.76% 0.71%
1978 3.48% 0.71%
1977 3.15% 0.71%
1976 2.95% 0.71%
1975 2.84% 0.58%
1974 2.75% 0.58%
1973 2.66% 0.58%
1972 2.59% 0.57%
1971 2.54% 0.58%
1970 2.49% 0.57%
1969 2.5% 0.57%
1968 2.51% 0.57%
1967 2.5% 0.57%
1966 2.48% 0.57%
1965 2.47% 1.12%
1964 2.48% 1.12%
1963 2.47% 1.12%
1962 2.44% 1.12%
1961 2.41% 1.12%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Malawi Russia
Current population
22949294
141906741
Population rank 61/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.28% 1.71%
One net population change
57.3 seconds
1.8 minutes
One birth every
47.6 seconds
25.5 seconds
One death every
4.64 minutes
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,509 -801
Annual growth/decline +550,804 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.61% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 26/197 177/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -5,628 -251,822
Net migration rank 118/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 186,719 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 117/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 158/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malawi
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malawi Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,628 - -251,822
2024 - -1,507 - -178,042
2023 549,096 -5,811 -503,392 27,807
2022 533,450 -5,231 -576,948 765,629
2021 517,400 -2,666 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 514,659 -2,655 -697,177 334,094
2019 506,104 -1,837 -319,997 336,494
2018 494,348 -3,267 -232,637 339,972
2017 484,655 982 -130,764 396,619
2016 474,779 3,505 0 447,645
2015 472,484 -6,471 43,392 384,756
2014 472,418 -10,317 28,848 264,698
2013 470,293 -12,934 28,761 289,872
2012 460,684 -13,561 0 285,977
2011 454,149 -12,170 -128,716 309,377
2010 444,468 -9,327 -242,844 307,555
2009 434,811 -8,590 -257,014 350,206
2008 421,781 -9,264 -356,856 360,840
2007 410,290 -22,680 -471,257 365,717
2006 397,123 -29,450 -686,638 308,370
2005 381,130 -31,462 -846,761 263,541
2004 361,133 -32,221 -792,370 261,519
2003 341,133 -31,729 -896,822 256,804
2002 322,863 -30,013 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 310,833 -28,933 -963,445 259,614
2000 300,439 -28,098 -967,540 550,401
1999 295,629 -31,686 -927,453 375,468
1998 285,407 -39,491 -694,053 528,135
1997 277,433 -61,646 -769,159 541,387
1996 270,048 -66,212 -785,248 587,171
1995 266,745 -66,366 -845,742 723,875
1994 275,439 -505,365 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 276,538 -284,867 -757,140 507,229
1992 269,066 37,142 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 260,193 15,291 103,876 125,505
1990 250,159 71,111 325,533 299,863
1989 237,967 180,031 576,112 89,400
1988 226,911 201,011 778,343 269,862
1987 220,566 271,693 977,583 275,611
1986 218,519 62,615 985,279 283,553
1985 216,179 74,625 762,447 280,614
1984 212,146 72,435 756,548 247,026
1983 209,422 68,197 906,676 200,159
1982 205,386 62,661 830,855 107,520
1981 199,436 57,376 713,700 36,686
1980 192,746 52,294 681,149 10,440
1979 182,123 46,388 690,135 -5,791
1978 172,503 36,225 812,766 108,882
1977 161,930 19,638 832,932 122,316
1976 153,422 8,206 852,237 113,851
1975 145,254 5,162 843,850 80,069
1974 137,819 3,833 883,186 -51,759
1973 131,529 1,623 846,561 -107,568
1972 125,728 48 872,050 -111,168
1971 121,015 -710 854,999 -134,968
1970 116,822 -2,147 785,554 -264,464
1969 113,120 -2,266 753,088 -64,643
1968 110,329 -924 787,621 -83,221
1967 106,668 0 854,554 -116,029
1966 103,512 0 989,279 -111,360
1965 100,040 0 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 97,658 0 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 95,933 0 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 92,463 0 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 89,091 0 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 85,718 0 1,962,834 -234,895

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/russia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Malawi is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people). In Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

Biggest cities by population

Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/malawi/russia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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